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EDITORS’ NOTES

The songwriting teams behind Beyonce’s Irreplaceable” and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” collaborate to deliver “I Need a Girl,” an acoustic-based pop song that’s one of the strongest cuts on Ready. The half-time jams “Holla If Ya Need Me,” “Neighbors Know My Name” and “Jupiter Love” are part bedroom ballads, part club songs, and Trey squeezes each of them for everything they’re worth.

EDITORS’ NOTES

The songwriting teams behind Beyonce’s Irreplaceable” and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” collaborate to deliver “I Need a Girl,” an acoustic-based pop song that’s one of the strongest cuts on Ready. The half-time jams “Holla If Ya Need Me,” “Neighbors Know My Name” and “Jupiter Love” are part bedroom ballads, part club songs, and Trey squeezes each of them for everything they’re worth.

TITLE

TIME

Panty Droppa (Intro)

1:26

Neighbors Know My Name

3:06

I Invented Sex (feat. Drake)

4:07

I Need a Girl

3:34

One Love

4:16

Does He Do It

2:58

Say Aah (feat. Fabolous)

3:27

LOL :-) (feat. Gucci Mane & Soulja Boy Tell 'Em)

4:06

Ready to Make Luv

1:20

Jupiter Love

4:33

Be Where You Are

3:59

Successful (Drake and Trey Songz)

4:26

Black Roses

3:33

Love Lost

3:43

Hollalude

1:16

Holla If Ya Need Me

4:04

Yo Side of the Bed

4:10

Brand New (Bonus Track)

3:42

Scratchin' Me Up (Bonus Track)

4:09

You Belong to Me (Bonus Track)

3:55

21

Brand New

3:43

22

I Need a Girl

3:37

22 Songs, 1 Hour 17 Minutes

Released: Aug 31, 2009

℗ 2009 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.

Ratings and Reviews

4.5 out of 5

2.6K Ratings

2.6K Ratings

btaznpride
, 08/30/2009

Trey Songz-Ready

Hoping to solidify his presence on the R&B scene with Ready, Trey returns with his third offering after the more club/hip hop oriented Trey Day.

Neighbors Know My Name: Trey starts things off by delivering a very R. Kelly esque track, from the production to the singing, its evident that Kellz was a huge influence to Songz. 3.5/5I Invented Sex: Relaxed midtempo with club synths from L.O.S., lyrically it isn’t anything too impressive, but the track works with its fresh sound. Hip Hop’s hottest rookie, Drake drops a guest spot, proving the good chemistry between the two. 3.5/5I Need A Girl: Fittingly selected as the lead single, Stargate deliver a familiar tune, yet catchy one, while Johnta Austin delivers another smash lyrically. Similar in vein to “Can’t Help But Wait”, Trey is now searching for that one girl. Summery smooth jam that shows Trey’s ability to turn a track he didn’t write into his. 4.5/5One Love: Well known R&B producer, Bryan Michael Cox continues to deliver the goods, as Trey croons over strings and a rock tinged production. The track has somewhat of an epic feel to it, as Trey professes his love. 3.5/5Does He Do It: Despite the overly repetitive hook, the soft keys smoothen things out. The track’s uptempo feel hides the shortcomings of the hook and cliched lyricism. 3/5 Say Aah: The most club slick number on the album, Fabolous has a fitting verse, while the production keeps things lively. 3.5/5LOL :-): A very silly track, that somehow gets by on its charm and feel good vibe (not to mention the tune of Frere Jacques at the hook). Southern clubbers, Gucci Mane & Soulja Boy deliver their simple rhymes that are quite corny, yet fitting for the topic of the track-sexting. 3/5Jupiter Love: Following the very intimate interlude, Trey slows things down with the slow jam of the album. Rhythmic clicks, minimal keys and lush strings blend slowly, while Trey croons to the ladies fittingly. 4/5Be Where You Are: Fast flowing tempo, Trey sings about wanting to be with his special someone all the time. Interesting concept that works well because of Trey’s willingness to experiment with different production. 3.5/5Successful: Originally featured on Drake’s So Far Gone mixtape, Trey re-recorded the track with a verse, scratching Wayne’s feature and appears on Ready. Drake shows promise lyrically with two good verses, Trey’s verse isn’t bad, while the killer hook and intimate production by Noah “40” Shebib really is the highlight. 4.5/5Black Roses: Blending guitar and electronic effects, Trey reminisces on a dying relationship and ending it with “black roses”. Another solid album track that is unique. 3.5/5Love Lost: Regretful actions are sung, as Trey delivers a soaring hook over the spacious production by Taylor. A good track that has a cruising vibe. 3.5/5Holla If You Need Me: Lyrically, Trey speaks on a relationship that is over, yet he still wants to be on good terms and is available whenever she needs him. 3.5/5Yo Side Of The Bed: Very fitting end to the album, as Songz sings about missing his girl, as her side of the bed is empty. The late night feel of the track is subtle and light, while Trey croons soothingly to his lady, even showcasing a little falsetto. The hook is decent and with the added instruments later, it builds to a solid finish. 4/5Brand New: Soundz delivers more clubby synths with bass, while this is a decent club number, I was a bit happy it was left off the official release. Decent bonus. 3/5Scratchin Me Up: Good bonus that works as another bedroom number. Featured on his mixtape, Anticipation. 3.5/5You Belong To Me: Another bedroom burner that isn’t quite as effective as “Scratchin Me Up”, but decent bonus. 3/5

Trey’s third effort showcases the crooner steeping into his own and solidifying his spot among R&B’s best. While he hasn’t quite dropped that classic album, he drops a very good album here that should be talked about as one of the best releases this year. Truly pleasing about the album is the reconnection to Troy Taylor, who appears more throughout the record, contributing to 9 of the 17 records, where the last album he seemed to overlook the project than be involved. Songz stated he had more direction control with this album and that allowed him more freedom in what he felt fans wanted, he was right about knowing, as the focus that Songz and Taylor placed into the craft shine through. Drake’s two features on “Successful” and “I Invented Sex” are a reminder of their great chemistry, while Trey balances the slow tracks and club numbers better than ever on Ready. The R. Kelly esque “Neighbors Know My Name” starts things off right, the commercial single “I Need A Girl” has a summer feel, while the lovely slow jam “Jupiter Love” works nicely. “Yo Side Of The Bed”, “Holla If Ya Need Me”, “Love Lost” are all solid tracks rounding out the effort that showcase how good of a guy Trey is. He’s always had the talent, here he’s able to figure out what direction he wants, as well as his sound, as emotion lacked in his previous release and the club stuff lacked in his debut. With this debut, there is no doubt Trey is Ready to head for R&B superstardom.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Keith Sweat
, 09/01/2009

LOL...smiley face...are you serious?

Is this what R&B has come to? Perhaps one of the worst songs I've EVER heard, and Trey Songz is a talented singer. Sounds like he got caught up in all the stupid technology lyrics. Take a hint from Jay-Z, end all the auto-tuning, twitter-talking, facebook fantasizing crap and put out some quality music. I don't think you'd hear Stevie Wonder singing about his new atari, 8 track player or his groovy electric calculator! Put out some t!hs that's timeless, PLEASE!

Kaptain Kham
, 08/30/2009

I've been ready

This new album shows the evolution that Trey Songz has made since his debut album I Gotta Make It. He has matured vocally and it shows on Ready. This album has slow jams (Yo Side of the bed), songs for the kids (LOL :) ), and songs to play while you're driving around (Successful). Everyone can find a song that they will love and can relate to on this album. I suggest that everyone out there pays for Ready, and support good music.